Ever since the start of this year, the 5pm Dining blog has been following the progress of the new Damm 27.

Formerly the Victoria Bar, it has changed from being a local pub into something rather more glamorous and, having launched in April, the bar bistro is now bookable via 5pm.

A reported £300k has been spent on the creation of Damm 27 with the interior being completely remodelled and a new kitchen fitted.

Operator Andy McCartney, who also runs Embargo on Glasgow's Byres Road, has described the new look as 'London chic meets cosy and intimate, with a rustic feel that's not too stuffy'. The quote is from a piece in Dram magazine which goes into much more detail about the new venture's design.

Of course, here at the 5pm Dining blog we do appreciate a well designed bar or restaurant but we can get much more excited about an intriguing selection of starters than we can about some light fittings. Even if they are really cool light fittings.

At Damm 27, they offer a brunch, lunch and main food menu catering to customers from 10am to late.

For brunch, they have a sort of set menu. Coming in at £12 it offers fruit juice plus tea or coffee and any dish from a brunch list which includes eggs Benedict or Florentine; a croque monsieur or madame; a full cooked brekkie or, naturally, smashed avo on rustic bread.

At lunch, they keep it simple with a soup of the day and interesting sandwiches and salads.

In the evening, the chefs let rip with nibbles and sharing platters, fish dishes, mussel pots and a selection of burgers.

In addition, there are meaty options such as onglet steak served with chimichurri, coq au vin blanc and choucroute garni featuring Alsatian pork, braised ham and sauerkraut.

Great veggie and vegan options

There are separate veggie and vegan sections to the main menu. The former has dishes such as a Roquefort, pear and walnut salad; cauliflower cheese and kale croquettes plus a spiced aubergine caponata with grilled halloumi.

Vegan choices include truffled polenta cubes with a chilli and lime salsa plus charred and pickled fennel with a bulgur wheat tabbouleh and lemon hummus.

Decadent drinks

The drinks choices are just as interesting and more than a little decadent. The cocktail list is split into three sections: cocktails at dawn; daytime drinking and nocturnal.

If Damm 27 proves successful then the plan is to roll it out to Glasgow, Liverpool and London.

You can book into Damm 27 via 5pm Dining. They are currently running a 20% discount offer on the main/a la carte menu when you book via 5pm.